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TENNIS

All the up-to-date news from Boston Tennis Club

July 2006

News for week ending Sunday July 30

Boston Tennis Club ladies third team had a good win at Spalding in the Lincolnshire Doubles League.

The team was made up of Helen Cook, Ashleigh Frankish, Sue Beesley, Ailsa Linnell, Lesley Addy and Pearl Wrigley. The final score was 6-3 in their favour. The team stood at 2-1 up after the first round, securing a vital third set tie-break by 10-0 in the first round. Two more rubbers won in the second round placed the team at a comfortable 4-2 scoreline after which the team added the final two rubbers in the third round. The ladies third team is currently standing in second place in the League table.

The annual NSPCC tournament held recently was as successful as ever. Visitor from Laval also took part in the tournament adding an extra dimension to the day. Good weather conditions prevailed and unusually it was excessive heat that may have cause problems for the organisers rather than the danger of rain delays. Nearly 50 players took part in the day that is held in aid of such a worthwhile cause.

Although a doubles tournament, the players entered as individuals and then played with and against any number of different players. At the end of the day the overall boy and girl winners of the four groups were Sasha Martin, Mark Hurrell, Jessica Frankish, Charles Fraudin, Ashleigh Frankish, Michael Mitchell and Emily Hawkesworth.

In the Boston and District Mixed League there was a good result for Boston third mixed team. The team won 8-1 against Heckington. On this occasion the team was Louis Warren, Emma Cook, Sushil Kumar, Patricia Sweeney, Michael Sweeney and Rachel Brook.

News for week ending Sunday July 23

In the Lincolnshire Doubles League, Boston Tennis Club’s first team of Andrew Cook, Simon Bush, Richard Cook, Ray Frankish, Mike Burnett and Louis Warren had a 7-2 win at Spalding and will, as a result, move one step nearer the top of the table.

The men’s fifth team finished their matches for the season on a high note. Not too many wins for the fifths over the summer but it was a pleasing end to the team’s run in this year’s Lincolnshire League. Against Bourne third team it was a 7-2 win for Peter Elphick, Chris Cook, Louis Warren, Chris Beal, Michael Audis and Robert Linnell.

In the Boston and District Mixed League Boston 3 (team of Emma Cook, Chris Sweeney, Rachel Brook, Sripal Kumar, Patricia Sweeney and Sushil Kumar) had an 8-1 win against Rochford. In a match against Boston 1, however, the Boston 3 team lost out 7-2. Playing for Boston 3 on this occasion were Andrew Cook, Helen Cook, Ray Frankish, Hazel Walker Kevin Hawkesworth and Jane Hindmarch. The winning team comprised James Thompson, Danielle Frankish, Simon Bush, Faye Button, Tom Brooks and Sam Green.

Alexandre Delaunay and Danielle Frankish won Boston Tennis Club’s social American tournament.

This popular event, sponsored by Boston’s Bombay Brasserie, was held on Sunday and guests from their twin town of Laval in France joined players from Boston Tennis Club. Conditions were perfect for an enjoyable competition which saw 54 players taking part.

Alexandre and Danielle were the overall winners of this tournament in which a player is allocated a partner and then plays half of the matches with that partner and half of them against them. At the end of the competition the winners are the two players who have won the most games overall.

The men’s winner, Alexandre (a visitor from Laval) on 46 games was one game ahead of second placed Alex Cobb and six games ahead of third placed Connor Trigg and Richard Woods. Ladies’ winner Danielle was on 42 games with Helen Motson in second place on 39 games and Laval guest Marie Faussabry in third place. Prizes for the winners included meals at the Bombay Brasserie in West Street. Joan Beale did an excellent job of organising the day.

News for week ending Sunday July 16

In Division One of the Lincolnshire League, Boston Tennis Club’s men’s first team managed a win against Bourne. In only the third match of the season for the men, it was the side’s third win. Making it three out of three with this 5-4 result was the team of Andrew Cook, Simon Bush, James Geelhoed, Mark Thompson, Alex Cobb and George Dann.

On Sunday, the men’s second team, also playing in Division One, had a good win against Spalding to give them two wins this season so far. In a close tussle Boston were 2-1 down after the first round but recovered to 3-3 after the completion of all the rubbers in the second round. With a finely balanced match that could have gone either way, it depended, like all the best ones, on the result of a third set tie-break played to decide the remaining rubber on court. Although trailing at first in the tie-break the Boston pair eventually turned it around to give the team the 5-4 advantage. The team was Clive Green, James Thompson, Ray Frankish, Matthew Gibson, James Povah and Steven Green.

In Division Two, the third team faced a similar situation but was not so lucky, and the team lost out to Burton Waters 5-4.The team comprised John Gibson, Matthew Gibson, Ray Frankish, Clive Green, Chris Cook and Sev Smura.As a unit they missed out in several close rubbers but eventually the score stood at 4-4 and the result depended upon the inevitable lottery of the third set tie-break.

With two match points, the team can be forgiven for feeling home and dry. However watching them slip away, disappointment replaced the earlier emotions as Burton Waters won the rubber and the match. With three home matches remaining for the team, optimism is still uppermost, in that this recent spell of bad luck when matches have been narrowly lost will not continue.

The ladies’ second team had a good win against Grantham on Saturday. The team of Catherine Ellis, Danielle Frankish, Faye Button, Mary Smura, Jenny McGarel and Rachel Atkinson won 7-2 in a home tie. The match went well for the Boston team from the outset and a 3-0 start in the first round made the final result seem secure.

The ladies’ third team also had a good result against Spilsby. This potentially difficult match also never looked in doubt for the team of Helen Cook, Sue Beesley, Rachel Brook, Sandra White, Ashleigh Frankish and Hazel Walker. Stiff opposition and sweltering conditions took their toll on the opposition players and the third team won 8-1.

In the Boston and District Mixed League Boston 2 mixed team was knocked out of the Leggott Cup competition by Bourne. The team of Ros Keane, Edward Fowler, Jenny Grant, Ross Wilding, Joan Beale and Callum Simmons lost out 8-1 to the visitors. Boston 1 will now play Bourne in the semi-finals of the Leggott Cup.

As the schools break up for the summer holidays draw near, there are two activities to watch out for. The NSPCC Junior Doubles Tennis Tournament is on Thursday July 27 at Boston Tennis Club for tennis players aged between 8 and 18. See clubhouse noticeboard for details.

For non-players as well as players, the tennis activities during the holidays will be from 2pm to 4pm every Wednesday and Friday from July 26 to August 11 — see the Sports Tour booklet from school for more details.

News for week ending Sunday July 9

The Lincolnshire Doubles League is almost at the half way stage for this season and the results are varied for Boston Tennis Club teams. Over the weekend there were three close matches in the League.

The ladies’ first team had a tough match against St James while the ladies’ third team had Eastgate second team as the opposition. Both teams had the advantage of a home draw and the outcome of both matches depended upon the result of the last rubber on court.

The Boston Ladies first team, current league champions, with two wins to their credit this season were up against tough opposition. The team of Rachel Atkinson, Samantha Green, Kelly Thompson, Danielle Frankish, Faye Button and Ailsa Linnell drew the match level at 4-4. But the final result was in St James’ favour winning a third set tie-break 10-8 giving the firsts some work to do if the team is to retain the title. The third team of Helen Cook, Hilary Calvert, Sandra White, Rachel Brooks, Ashleigh Frankish and Hazel Walker also drew level at 4-4. The remaining rubber on court involving Sandra White and Rachel Brooks was vital. The Boston pair played well to come back from 5-7 and 3-5 down to win the rubber on a third set tie-break, giving the thirds a 5-4 win.

The final match over the weekend was between the ladies’ second team and Eastgate. This was an away fixture for Boston. Yet again the result was 5-4. However, unfortunately this was to Eastgate. The Boston team comprised Lucy Fowler, Jenny Mcgarel, Rachel Atkinson, Danielle Frankish, Faye Button and Mary Smura.

The Junior League sponsored by Bombay Brasserie is now entering its third month of the summer.

In a league with a large number of players, Danielle Frankish heads the rest of the field with nine points on the leader board. Danielle is four points ahead of second placed Andrei Clark. Following these two are Andrea Jackson, Ashleigh Frankish and Calum Mccaig with four points. On three points are Carl Robinson and Kathie Dawson. Andrei and Danielle will remain in group one of the Bombay Brasserie Junior Singles League for the month of July and they will be joined by Andrea Jackson and Chris Beale.

Inspired by watching Wimbledon fortnight on television? Take part in the Social American Doubles Tournament, which will be held on Sunday July 23. To enter this tournament members should see the noticeboard in the clubhouse. Although this is a doubles event partners are allocated on the day.

News for week ending Sunday July 2

It was good news for the tennis team from the Borough of Boston at the Lincolnshire Youth Games. This competition, held at Grantham’s Meres Leisure Centre, is the largest sports event for young people in the county and is one of many such events taking place this summer throughout England.

The sports involved are adapted to provide quality competitive opportunities for young people. The tennis team, organised by Boston Community Tennis Partnership, finished in first place and the players — Jason Wade, Henry Warren, Kieran Evans, Charley Madigan, Astrid Preston and Jessica Frankish — collected their medals and trophy.

With summer here and Wimbledon well into its second week, youngsters keen to play should watch out for details of tennis activities distributed in the Sports Tour brochure. Sessions will be held every Wednesday and Friday afternoon (2pm to 4pm), from July 26 until August 11. Membership will be available to Sports Tour participants and their families joining during the span of the event.

On the main Boston Tennis Club scene, in the second round of the Leggott Cup, the mixed knockout competition, Boston Tennis Club’s first team had to play their third team counterparts. The team for Boston 1 comprised Simon Bush, Danielle Frankish, James Thompson, Sam Lakin, Tom Brooks and Rachel Atkinson. Meanwhile the players for Boston 3 were Andrew Cook, Catherine Ellis, Ray Frankish, Lucy Fowler, Kevin Hawkesworth and Hazel Walker. This was a close match that went down to the last rubber on court that was eventually won by Boston 1, giving them a 5-4 result.

Boston 1 now progress to the semi-finals to play the winners of the second round fixture between Boston 2 and Bourne to be played soon. As a forerunner to that encounter, Boston 2 have already played Bourne in a Boston and District Mixed League match. The second team will want to reverse the result of this encounter, which was a 5-4 win for Bourne. Playing for Boston on this occasion were Joan Beale, Callum Simmons, Jenny Grant, Ross Wilding, Yvonne Cropley and John Fisher.

Meanwhile the Boston 1 team of James Thompson, Sam Lakin, Michael Audus, Rachel Atkinson, Tom Brooks and Sam Green had a 6-3 win over Spalding in the league.

After a brief respite due to the Chattertons Club Tournament, matches resumed at the weekend in the Lincolnshire Doubles League. In a Second Division match the men’s third team was unlucky to lose 3-6 to Tennis Buddies. This was a relapse in an otherwise good run of results for the team. Playing on Saturday were John Gibson, Ray Frankish, Callum SimMons, Matthew Gibson, Chris Cook and Michael Audus.

In the First Division the ladies’ second team managed a 5-4 win — the team’s first victory of the season — against Tennis Buddies in a close match. The second team comprised Catherine Ellis, Lucy Fowler, Jenny McGarel, Faye Button, Rachel Atkinson and Mary Smura.

Two Third Division matches, played in sweltering conditions, had tie – breaks signifying close encounters. But ultimately no rubbers were won by Boston in either case. The ladies fifth team of Emma Cook, Tricia Sweeney, Lesley Wright, Nicole Martin, Helen Motson and Louise Linnell lost out to the Bourne 2 team. The men’s sixth team of Mike Sweeney, Sev Smura, James Sweeney, Michael Emery, Louis Warren and George Dann lost to Sleaford.